Cigarette lighter



Oct'. 5, 1937. l. FLoRMAN CIGARETTE LIGHTER Filed June l2', 1935 3 )we nto/r, 7/0//220/7,

A Y//b tiny .ff ,f2/ww* Patented Oct. 5, 1937 PATENT OFFICE CIGARETTE LIGHTER Irving Florman, New York, N. Y., assigner to Vestalite Corporation, poration of New York Application June 12, 1935,

16 Claims.

My invention relates to cigarette lighters, and more particularly to lighters of the catalytic type.

In the past, lighters of this type, and particularly lighters in which a wick saturated with fuel is ignited vthrough the action of a catalytic member, have been unsatisfactory because the wick has generally been exposed to the action of the catalyst, which appears to poison or flood the catalyst and prevent its proper operation. An-

other disadvantage of such priorart structures is that the fuel chamber in which the liquid fuel is retained has generally been filled from the bottom, or, in other words, from the side farthest from the catalyst. As moisture is absorbed by the wick in the fuel chamber, the addition of fuel from the bottomtends to wash this moisture through the wick and carry it to the to-p of the wick, where it is close to the catalyst. The presence of water at this point obviously renders the device less satisfactory. Still a further disadvantage of such lighters has been that the catalyst becomes coated or covered by dirt or impurities, such as tobacco particles or flakes, which it is almost impossible for the average per- .25 son to remove without injuring the lighter or the catalytic element.

The object of the present invention is to provide a catalytic lighter which will operate in satisfactory fashion. One object of the invention 30 is to provide a positive cut-off between the fuel and wick and the catalyst, this beingl accomplished particularly by a threaded joint between the two so as to insure an absolutely tight seal.

The second object of the invention is to pro- 35 vide an arrangement in which the fuelis added at the top of the fuel chamber, so that any water collecting will be washed to the bottom away from the catalyst, and cause the lighter to function more satisfactorily.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this type in ,which the catalyst holding sectionvis removably secured to the fuel chamber, preferably by a snap catch of some sort, 45 so that the removal of the catalyst in order to fill the lighter will give a sudden jerkthereto, this motion serving to shake off particles of dirt, tobacco, or other impurities, and thus to keep the catalyst in operative condition.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive lighter of this type which yet will operate properly.

Further objects and advantages of the inventionl will appear morefully from the following 55 description, particularly when taken in conjunc- New York, N. Y., a cor- Serial No. 26,295

tion with the accompanying drawing a part thereof.

In the drawing: y Fig. l is a side elevation of a lighter according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical crossl section through the same.

which forms Fig. vr3V is` a horizontal cross section substantiali ly on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a top plan View of the lighter with the cover removed.

The lighter comprises a cylindrical body 2 having an upper portion 4 of reduced diameter, the body being closed by a bottom wall Ii and being open at the top. At the line of division between the body 2 and the upper section 4 is a shoulder 8, both internally and externally of the body portion. Within the casing 2 and lining the inner wall lthereof is a wick member I0 which extends from top to bottom of the casing. This wick member serves to draw fuel from the wicking or absorbent material I2 in the bottom part of the casing 2 and draw it upwardly by capillary attraction into the upper section 4, where it will be ignited as will be described below.

Within the casing 2 and just below the internal shoulder 8, is arranged a disc I4 having around its periphery lugs I6 which engage beneath the shoulder 8 and thus hold the disc in position. These lugs pass through suitable apertures I1 in the wick Ill. In the center of the disc I4 is an aperture I8 having one side straight, as at 20. Any other suitable shape of aperture which will prevent turning of a member therein, that is, any non-circular aperture, may be used. Above the disc I4 is a block 22 having a flange 24 upon which is arranged an annular washer 26. The upstandng central portion of the block is externally threaded. At the top of the block is a threaded pin 28. 'Ihreadedly secured on this pin is a base section 38 having an upstanding arm 32 and an upper horizontal portion 34. Wires 36 of platinum or other suitable catalytic material extend from the upper arm 34 to the base member 30, and these wires support a catalytic ball 38 of platinum black or the like.

It is evident that, if the arrangement here shown is not covered, or closed, the vapors from the wick I0 will fill the space within the upper portion 4, and upon contact with the catalyst will cause the same to become sufficiently hot to ignite the vapors and light the wick.

A cover member, comprising a top 40, and a downwardly extending cylindrical section 42 Vternal cylindrical section 44 the lower end of of `a sufficient pull, the portion 56 which is internally threaded and is of the same diameter as the block 22. An opening 46 to allow the escape of any gases which may gather within the space around the catalyst may also be provided in the top 4G. An annular washer 48 is arranged within the space around the cylinder member 44, this washer serving as an additional seal, and being engaged by the upper edge of portion 4 to shut off the fuel from the atmosphere and prevent evaporation thereof.

The block 22 is removably held in place by a plug having a large semi-cylindricalV portion 5I)V and a smaller portion 52 provided with a straight edge which corresponds to the straight edge 276 of the opening I8. A slot 54 is provided between members 50 and 52, and member 52 at itslower edge has a slight outwardly set portion 56. The slot 54 permits resilient movement of the section 52, so that the plug may be inserted into and removed from the opening I8 upon the exertion plug in position against accidental The operation of the device is as order to cause the lighting of the cover is unscrewed, releasing the from the block 22. As soon as the cover is removed, the vapors of the fuel will engage the catalyst and will ignite it thereby7 lighting the wick. To extinguish the lighter, the cover is replaced and the block 22. When this is done, the lower Vedge of the cylinder 44 is tightly engaged with the washer 26, and this washer in combination with the threaded joint gives an extremely tight seal so that no fuel can possibly pass from the wick IU to the catalyst and'poison the same. At the same time washer 48 engages the upper edge of member 4 and seals the wick and fuel chamber so as to prevent evaporation of fuel therefrom.

When it is desired to ll the lighter, a pull is exerted on the `cover sufficient to overcome the resilient resistance of the section 52 of the plug. This then causes the plug to be released from opening I8, and the block with the catalyst carried thereby is removed along with the cover. This leaves the wicking entirely open except for the disc I4, and fuel may be added at the top. As this fuel is added, it will wash downwardly into the wicking i2 any water which may have collected near the top thereof. The adverse effects Vof water from the atmosphere which invariably collects to a certain extent in the wick are thus avoided. When the device is filled, the whole assembly wlLich has been removed is restored to position and the lighter is ready for further use.

It will be noted that the flat side of the plug and opening will of course prevent rotation of the block so that the cover can be unscrewed and thus removed to ignite the lighter. An impor-V tant feature of the invention therefore is that applicantby turning the cover may remove the cover only in order to cause the lighter to ignite, while by pulling on this same cover he may remove the lighter and the catalyst for filling. An additional advantage of this resides in the fact that the catalyst is separated from the lighter body during the lling operation, so that there is no danger of bringing the fuel into direct contact with the catalyst itself.

Whenever the cover is removed for filling, the sudden jerking caused by the release of the plug removal.

follows: In lighter, the cylinder 44 holding the cylinder 44 is screwed on the from the opening I8 will shake the catalyst wires and ball, and thereby will tend to shake off any dirt or tobacco particles which may be clinging to and reducing the effectiveness of the catalyst.

While I have described herein one embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not intend to limit myself thereby except Within the scope of the appended claims. Y

I claim: Y

1. In a cigarette lighter, a casing open at one end and having a fuel chamber at its other end, a wick lining the wall of said casing, a catalytic element, a member supporting said element, a

cover, means on said Vcover having a threaded engagement with said supporting member to cut Yoff communication between said wick and said vcatalytic element, and means releasable by a lineal'pull 'to holdsaid member in saidV casing, whereby rotary movement of said cover permits removal of the same to ignite the wick while a lineal pull removes the catalytic element and supporting member to permit filling of the fuel chamber.

2. In a cigarette lighter,` a casing. having aY 3. In a cigarette lighter, a casing having a' fuel chamber therein, a Wick receiving fuelV from the chamber, a support, a catalytic element for ig'- niting the wick mounted on said support,`a cover for said casing, means releasable by rotation of said cover connecting said cover and said support, and means releasable byV lineal movement of the cover connecting said support and casing, said last means including means to prevent rotation of said support with'respect to the casing.

4. In a cigarette lighter, a casing havinga fuel chamber therein, a wick within said casing, a disc secured within said casing, said disc having a non-circular opening therein, a catalyst'support adapted to rest on said disc and having a plug engageableV in said opening, a catalytic ignition element supported on said support, said support having external threads thereon, a cover for said casing, a lcylindrical membercarried by said cover and extending downwardly within said casing surrounding the catalytic element, said cylindrical member having internalV threads at the lower end thereof engaging the threads on the said support, whereby upon rotation of said cover the same may be removed to permit vapors from said wick to contact said ignition element and thereby ignite the wick, Vwhile upon applying a lineal force to said cover said support and'ignition element will be removed with the cover, so as to permit filling of said'fuel chamber through the top of the casing, said non-circular openingand plug holding the support against rotation during unscrewing of said cover.

5. In `a cigarette lighter, a casing having a for said casing, means releasable saidY catalytic elewall and a cylindrical wall adapted to fit slidingly on the outer surface of said casing, a cylindrical member carried by said top wall and extending downwardly within said casing surrounding the catalytic element, said cylindrical member having internal threads at the lower end thereof engaging the threads on the said support,- whereby upon rotation of said cover the same may be removed to permit vapors from said wick to contact said ignition element and thereby ignite the wick, while upon applying a lineal force to said cover said support and ignition element will be removed with the cover, so as to permit filling of said fuel chamber through the top of the casing, while at the same time said ignition element will be submitted to a jerk so as to shake off therefrom any impurities.

6. In a cigaretter lighter, a casing having a fuel chamber in the bottom thereof, a wick lining the wall of said casing, the upper portion of said casing being of reduced diameter, whereby an internal shoulder is formed in said casing, a disc within said casinghaving lugs on its periphery engaging beneath said shoulder, said disc having a non-circular ,opening therein, a catalyst support adapted to rest on said disc and having a plug resiliently engageable in said opening and releasable therefrom'by a lineal force, a catalytic ignition element supported on said support, said support having `external threads thereon, a cover comprising a top wall and a cylindrical wall adapted to t slidingly on the outer surface of Ysaid reduced portion, a cylindrical member carried by said top wall and extending downwardly within said reduced portion surrounding the catalytic element, said cylindrical member having internal threads at the lower end vthereof engaging the threads on the said support, and a washer between the lower end of said last cylindrical member and said support, whereby upon rotation of said cover the same may be removed to permit vapors from said wick to Contact said ignition element and thereby ignite the wick, while upon applying a lineal force to said cover said support and ignition element will be removed with the cover, so as to permit filling of said fuel chamber through the top of the casing, while at the same time said ,ignition element will be submitted to a jerk so as to shake off therefrom any impurities, said non-circular opening and plug holding the support against rotation during unscrevving of said cover.

'7. A lighter comprising a casing, a platform in the casing and having a central opening, a member seatable on said platform, a catalyst secured to said member, means depending from said memv ber and removably engageable with said platform through said opening, a cover for said casing, absorbent material surrounding said catalyst in spaced relation therewith, and. cooperating means carried by said cover and said member for detachably securing the former to the latter.

8. A lighter comprising a casing, a platform .in the casing and having a central opening, a member seatable on said platform, a catalyst secured to said member, a part secured to said member, said part having depending elements removably engageable with said platform through said opening, a cover for said casing, absorbent material surrounding said catalyst in spaced relation therewith, and cooperating means carried by said cover and said member for detachably securing the former to the latter.

9. A lighter comprising a casing, an apertured platform in the casing, a member seatable on said platform, a catalyst secured to said member, means removably engaging said member with said platform, a cover for said casing, and means removably engaging said cover with said member.

10. A lighter comprising a casing, an apertured platform in the casing, a member, a catalyst se.- cured to said member, means for removably engaging said member with said platform, a cover for said casing, and means removably engaging said cover with said member.

11. In a lighter the combination of a housing, an apertured platform in said housing and having lugs engageable with said housing, a member having lugs engageable with said platform lugs, means removably engaging said member with said platform, and a catalyst secured to said member,

12. In a lighter, the combination of a casing, a support in the casing, a member, a catalyst secured to said member, means for removably securing said member to said support, a cover for said casing, and means for detachably securing said cover to said member.

13, In a lighter, the combination of a catalyst, a casing for said catalyst, anda closure for said catalyst, means for removably engaging said closure and catalyst as a unit with said casing, and means for removably engaging said closure with said casing and catalyst as a unit.

i4. A lighterA comprising a casing, a partition within said casing, a member arranged on said partition, a catalyst unit, means securing said unit to said member, said means including a part in releasable engagement with said partition, a cover for said casing, vabsorbent material surrounding said unit in spaced relation therewith, a tubular element within said cover for encircling said unit and interposable between said unit and said material, and cooperating means carried kby said element and said member for detachably securing the former to the latter.

15. In a cigarette lighter, a casing having a platform and having a fuel chamber therein, a wick, a support on the platform, a catalytic ignition element mounted on said support, a cover for the catalytic element, a threaded connection between said cover and support for removal of the cover from the support, and a snap spring connection between said support and platform releasable by a lineal pull whereby the support and catalytic element may be removed from the casing with the cover.

16. In a cigarette lighter, the combination of a casing having a fuel chamber therein, a catalytic element, and a cover attached to the casing and enclosing the catalytic element, said cover having dual means for selective access to said fuel chamber and said catalytic element and adapted for removal of the cover to expose the catalytic' element or to open the fuel chamber.

IRVING FLORMAN.V 

